Trash - Andy Mulligan (Review)

The book, Trash, tells the story of three young boys living in the Behala dumpsite in the Philippines. It describes the monstrosity of the conditions that these boys and their families lived in. One of these boys, Jun-Jun (or Rat), is exposed to the worst conditions out of the three, with no relations nor close friends to share a home with. Jun-Jun earns the nickname, Rat, because his "home" is shared with a family of rats, and his malnourishment and dirty appearance makes him look like a rat.

Young girl sifts through trash with her little brother

This moving tale spreads awareness of dumpsite children, forced to sift through rubbish starting from the day that they are capable of telling the difference between the value of a piece of plastic and an old banana skin. These children and their families (most likely born on the dumpsite) make a living out of other people's trash, and are somehow able to survive on the equivalent of one US dollar a day per family, or around 47 pesos.

Rooftoppers - Katherine Rundell

      Rooftoppers is a beautifully written novel by Katherine Rundell. The story follows the life of a young girl named Sophie, who (when she was only a baby) was the last survivor of a sunken ship (the Queen Mary). She was found floating in the sea in a cello case wrapped in one of Beethoven's symphonies for warmth, by her soon-to-be guardian, Charles Maxim, an "eccentric scholar".
     There are several metaphors throughout the novel. The most significant metaphor is displayed when Sophie is only beginning to adjust to life as a "Rooftopper" and is compelled to cross a tightrope between two tall buildings in Paris, to get to her friend's home on the opposite roof. Sophie is terrified of having to cross the tightrope but is able to reach the other building with her friend's help, as well as her own determination.
     This shows that when you're presented with tricky problems, anyone can easily help you overcome them.

J.K Rowling Biography

Joanne Kathleen Rowling is a British author, who is known globally as the author of the Harry Potter series, one of the most popular fantasy book and film franchises in history.

Joanne was born on the 31st of July, in 1965 in Yate, England, and was considered a literary genius by 1999, which was when she released the first three instalments of the Harry Potter series; Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Joanne had earned approximately $480 million in only three years from these books.

The first three books were a complete success for Rowling, so when the fourth book (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) came out, it became the fastest selling novel in history.